Feeler mechanism for magazine looms



Dec. 31, 1929. w. H; CONKLE FEELER MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE LOOMS Filed April 12. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Qwwwtoz WE 6 /1 46.

Patented Dec. 31, 1929 WILLIAM Ir. ooiNKLE, on PHOENIX CITY, ALABAMA star orrrca FEELER MECHANISM FORMAGAZINE LOOMS Application filed April 12,

a This invention relates to feelermechanisms for magazlne looms of that type embodying a slide membenfeelers pivotally mounted on the slide member, a transmitter slidable inde pendently of the slide member and connected to the, feelers and associated with the means forcontrolling the operation of the bobbin replenishing mechanism of the loom.

The present nvention has for one of its ob- 1o jects to improve and simplify feeler mechanisms of the kind stated to the end that their cost of manufacture may be reduced to the minimum, to the end that they will be more 1 bin and'associated with means for controlling the bobbin replenishing mechanism of a loom, Figure 2 1s a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1,

Flgure 3 1s a view in front elevatlon of the y of the means for controlling the bobbin revertical planes indicated by the line 5-5 of V V V thepart 1 and which is yieldingly held in plenishing mechanism,

Figure 4 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 14 of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the Figure 4,

Figure6 is a similar view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 66 of: Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the I vertical planes indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 desig nates a portion of the bobbin magazine of a Crompton and Knowles loom. An angular arm 2 is carried by the part 1, and a vertical plunger 3 reciprocates therein. An actuating lever 4 is pivoted between its ends, as at 5, to

bobbin, feeler mechanism and control finger 1928. Serial No. 269,547.

the plunger 3, and it rises and falls with the plunger during the normal operation of the loom. One end of the lever 41 extends ina slot 6 and across a hole 7 formed in the arm 2. The other end of the lever 4 is connected with a rod 8 which extends upwardly to the replenishinc mechanism of the loom.

A shaft 9 is rotatably supported by spaced bearings 10 and 11 extending forwardly from the stand 1. A finger 12 is secured tothe shaft 9 and is pivotally connected to a controller pin 13 which extends through the hole 17 in the arm 2 and is normally under the actuating lever 4 A collar 14 secured to the shaft 9 receives one end of a coil spring 15, and the other end of the spring is received by a bearing 11. A second finger 16 is secured to the shaft 9 and extends upwardly therefrom for "engagement with the slide member of a feeler mechanism to be hereinafter described.

When the finger 16 is rocked forwardly into the position shown in Figure 2, the controller pin 13 will be withdrawn from under the actuating lever 4, with the result that the lever may descend without causingmovement of the rod 8. When, however, the finger 16 is not moved into this position, the controller pin 13 remains under the actuating lever 4,

withtheresult that when the lever descends the rod 8 is depressed and the bobbin replenishing mechanism is operated. The structure thus far described and constituting the means for controlling the bobbin replenishing mechanism of the loom, is substantially the same as that set forth in Patent No. 1,030,748.

The feeler mechanism comprises a bracket 17 which. is pivotally mounted, as at 18, upon proper position by a coil spring 19.- The bracket 17 is provided in its upper side with a recess 20 for the reception of a slide me1nber21,a feeler 22 and springs 23and screws 26. The slide. member 21 contacts with one side wall of the recess 20 and extends through an opening 27 in the front end of the bracket 17. The slide member 21 isheld against lateral movement by said side opening 27 and by a lug 28 located in the recess and extending forwardly from the rear end of the bracket 17. The spring 23 is positioned between the front wall of the recess 20 and a lug 29 projecting laterally from the slide member 21, and it yieldingly maintains the slide member in its normal rearmost position. This position of the slide member 21 may be varied by a set screw 30 carried by the rear end of the bracket 17 and extending into the recess inalinementw-ith'the slide member. The set screw is maintained in adjusted position by a lock nut 31. The feeler 22 passes through a horizontal slot 32 in the rear end of the bracket 17, and it is provided with an angular front end33 and an arcuate rear end 31. The frontend 33 of the feeler 22 is pivotally connected, asat 35, to the slide member 21, and'the rear end 34:- there of has a portionof its convex side provided with teeth 36. The feeler- 22 is connected to the slide member 21 for movement. laterally with respect thereto and in the plane thereof, and it is normally held at a slight inclination to the slide member 21 and against the inclined side 28 of the lug 28 by the spring 24. This spring is provided with a coil 37 which is mounted on a vertical stud 538 extending upwardly'from the bottom wall of the recess-20, and it is providedfwith an arm39 which contacts withthe feeler 22 andwith an arm40 whichcontacts withone side wall of therecess.

In practice, the slide-member 21 and the feeler 22 are yieldingly held in their normal positions by thesprings 23 and 24c, respectively, and when in these positions the slide member is arranged at right angles and the feeler at an acute angle to thelongitudinal axis of the-bobbin. When the feeler 22 is engaged by abobbin containing yarn, it will be restrained against angular movement with respect to the slide member 21 by reason of the engagement of its teeth 36 with theyarn. Due to the fact that the feeler 22. is held against angular movement with respect to the sliding member '21 the control finger 16'will be moved into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the result that the controller pin 13 will move from under the actuating lever 4. When, however, the yarn on the bobbin hasbecome exhausted, the feeler 22 will not be held against angular movement with respect to-the sliding" member 21 but will-slidealong the bare barrel of the bobbin and permit the rearward movement of the control finger 1G and the controller 'pin13 by the spring 15. The controller. pin 13' is now under the actuating lever 4, with the result that when the lever descends therod 8 is de- As the bracket'l'? is pivotally mounted and as it is yieldingly maintained in place by the spring 19,the feeler cannot become broken as the result of a bobbin hanging in the shuttle or from any other cause.

I It should be understood that the drawings are merely illustrative and do not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, the said drawings are illustrative of a preferred construction, itvbeing my expectation that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

lVhat is claimed is In a feeler mechanism for looms, a bracket having a hollow section, a slide member carried by the section at one side thereof, said section having a portion abutted by said slide member, said slide member being of substantially the length of the section and extending forwardly beyond the same, the section having a shoulder adjacent the slide and the latter having a lug, an expansive spring arranged in the hollow portion and engaging said lug and shoulder, a feeler pivoted to the slide memberwithin the bracket and extending rearwardly beyond the bracket, and being-adapted to move angu-v larly with respect to the. slide member when the yarn on the bobbin becomes exhausted, means yieldingly holding the feeler against angular movement with respect to the slide member, a lug integral with said section ex.-- tending inwardly from the rear wallthereof and being in contact with the rear portion of the slide, said feeler being in contact with the last mentioned lug, and means for operating the slide member and adapted to operate the replenishing mechanism of the loom whenthe feeler moves angularly with respect to the slide member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature.

WILLIAM H. CONIiLE. I 

